Musicology, PhD

Program Description

The University of Oregon graduate program in musicology (PhD and MA) emphasizes a diversity of methodologies across the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Our flexible curriculum urges students to explore the university by taking courses that engage with cultural studies, literary theory, psychology and cognition, ethnography, comparative studies, and performance practice. By participating in a transdisciplinary scholarly community, students develop original research that puts them at the forefront of a changing discipline. We also offer graduate specializations in Historical Performance Practice (in collaboration with the Oregon Bach Festival) and Ethnomusicology. Our award-winning faculty promotes a collegial community featuring professional development workshops, regular symposia for peer feedback, guest lecturers and special events.

The discipline of musicology is broad, and only continues to broaden with every passing year. The cultural study of what sound and gesture mean in global and local contexts, the critical study of artworks and performances, historical approaches to musical change across time and geography, cognitive approaches to sound and the body—these are just some of the methods that comprise musicology. The breadth of the discipline means that studying musicology offers an exceptionally rich set of skills, both conceptual and practical. Conceptual skills include the nuanced understanding of ethics, the ability to extrapolate a new theory or framework from a mess of evidence, and the original interpretation of artworks, cultural practices, historical events, or embodied experience. Practical skills include crafting persuasive and streamlined prose, a sharp editorial eye, fieldwork methods and oral history for those pursuing ethnomusicology, public speaking and mentorship, project management as one navigates the demands of a thesis, and exposure to the administrative workings of large institutions, including the opportunity to shape policies on committees. A deep curiosity about music drives musicology, but along the way, students gain far more tools than specialized expertise.

Accepted students are eligible for graduate assistantships with tuition coverage, excellent medical insurance, and funded teaching experience. Students are also eligible to receive conference and research travel support from different departments and have access to a wide range of scholarships.

Application at a Glance

Detailed instructions are available on the program’s website. The following are required for your application:

Program-Specific Application Requirements:

Meet the Faculty

---

Visit the Website

---

School of Music and Dance

---

Campus: Eugene

---

Fall 2024
Final Deadline - December 10, 2023 

Applications must be submitted and paid for by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on the specified deadline date to be considered eligible.

---